Kenseth Reunites with Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25, 2018) – Who said you can’t go home? NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth will return to the organization where he began his storied NASCAR career, piloting Roush Fenway’s flagship No. 6 Ford Fusion for a part of the 2018 season. Kenseth will also have a new home away from home, with the team announcing a multi-year partnership with Wyndham Rewards®, the award-winning loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, as a new primary on the No. 6.

“It’s a great feeling to return to where it all started for me in the Cup Series,” said Kenseth. “There aren’t many people who have been more influential in my racing career than Jack Roush and Mark Martin. For them to believe in me today means almost as much as it did when they believed in me the first time, 20 years ago. I’m excited to get to the shop, get back to work, and help Roush Fenway return to prominence in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“Having a globally recognized name like Wyndham come on board is big for all of us—not just Roush Fenway, but for the sport as a whole,” added Kenseth. “It says a lot that they chose this team to carry their colors, and I’m going to do my best to make sure we perform for them, both on and off the track.”

Kenseth piloted Jack Roush’s No. 17 Ford for 13 seasons and brought home the team’s first Cup championship in 2003 as well as its historic 300th victory with a 2012 Daytona 500 win. One of the most accomplished drivers of NASCAR’s modern era, Kenseth boasts 39 NASCAR Cup victories. He is one of only six drivers in the sport’s 75-year history to win a Cup Championship, the Cup Rookie of the Year Award and the Daytona 500.

In addition, the Cambridge, Wisconsin native captured the 2004 International Race of Champions (IROC) title, and qualified for the NASCAR playoffs in 13 of its 14 seasons. During his celebrated career, Kenseth has 39 Cup Series victories, 181 top-five finishes, 327 top-10 finishes and 18 pole awards.

“With iconic brands like Wyndham®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Ramada® and more, Wyndham Rewards was built for the everyday traveler and that’s who race fans are—they are the folks hitting the road, heading from track to track, supporting their drivers and showing their love of the sport,” said Eliot Hamlisch, vice president of worldwide loyalty and partnerships at Wyndham Hotel Group. “Roush Fenway is one of the most recognized names in racing and the opportunity to work with them in support of Matt’s homecoming is something we see as really special.”

Kenseth will share the No. 6 with Trevor Bayne, who has driven the car for the past three seasons, with the exact schedule still in the works.

“We are very pleased to welcome Matt back to Roush Fenway,” said team co-owner Jack Roush. “Matt is one of the guys who really put us on the map of the racing landscape. He’s one of the most talented drivers to ever sit inside a race car and his will to win, drive and determination have always embodied what we strive for as an organization.

“At the same time, we are very happy to welcome Wyndham Rewards to the fold,” added Roush. “It takes a strong partner base to succeed at this level, and we are confident that Wyndham Rewards will be a great addition to our team. We look forward to working with them going forward.”

Wyndham will join long time anchor partners AdvoCare and Performance Plus on the No. 6 program.

About Wyndham Rewards

Named a best hotel rewards program for the past three consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report, Wyndham Rewards® is the award-winning guest loyalty program of Wyndham Hotel Group, offering members a generous points earning structure along with a flat, free night redemption rate—the first of its kind for a major rewards program. Members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points for every qualified stay and can redeem for a free night at any of more than 25,000 hotels, condos or homes around the world for just 15,000 points per room per night. No tricks, just Wyndham Rewards magic. You’ve Earned This®. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com.

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series competition. Moving into its 31st season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and producing multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by Jack Roush, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

Large Discounts On Older Model Year Cars, AND Ground Flat Rate Shipping Is Still Available Hasco Collectibles Div. Hasco Services, LLC

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Editors Notes Cup and Xfinity are in Charlotte this weekend. Here is the forecast:

ThursdayA slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. East northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Thursday NightA chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. FridayA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Friday NightA chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.SaturdayA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.Saturday NightA chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 40%.SundayA 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.Sunday NightShowers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60%

I thought these odds may be of interest to you. They’re courtesy of Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV).

NASCAR Chairman Brian France in response to reports his family is looking to sell the sanctioning body: "We're locked and loaded. We're doing our thing. We're very focused on what we've got to get done. That's all. No comment necessary."www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-23587122

________________________________________Phantom Fireworks joins Kauling RacingKaulig Racing is excited to announce Phantom Fireworks as the new primary sponsor of the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Ryan Truex in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). The sponsorship will begin with the Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26 followed by the next five NXS races.[More](5-23-2018)

A First Time For EverythingIt was a rainy and muggy Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway and waiting was the name of the game for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series North Caroling Education Lottery 200. After multiple delays, the race went green and Johnny Sauter sure was glad it did. For the first time in his career, Sauter took home the victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

This win marked his third of the season and 20th of his career. It also marked the second race of his career where he won from the pole. The last time Sauter did that was in 2011 at Martinsville.

He passed Brett Moffitt on Lap 87, one tour before Josh Reaume’s spin-out brought out the fifth caution of the race. From there, Sauter was unstoppable in his No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet. He continued on to lead a race-high 71 laps and increased his series points by 59 over second-place Noah Gragson. That also put him 65 points ahead of Moffitt in third.

It was his first win in 10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Charlotte, so his excitement was more than overdue.

His best finish at the speedway before his victory over the weekend was last year, when he started third and finished second. Sauter’s worst finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway was in 2013, when he started 16th and finished 28th due to a crash.

It was a long time coming for Sauter and all that was heard through his radio stream after he crossed the finish line was a lot of yelling and cheering, “We just won Charlotte!”

Sauter, who just celebrated his 40th birthday on May 1, has 228 races under his belt in the series with 20 wins, 94 top fives and 146 top 10s. He also has six poles and has led 2,135 laps.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is entering a two-week break this weekend before heading to Texas Motor Speedway for the Rattlesnake 400 on Friday, June 8 (9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

What Will Sauter Do Next?Sauter has become the sixth different driver in series history to post three or more wins (Daytona, Dover and Charlotte) in the first seven races of the season; joining Kyle Busch (four wins: 2014, 2011), Matt Crafton (three wins: 2015), Mike Skinner (three wins: 2007, 1996, 1995), Ron Hornaday Jr. (three wins: 1995) and Ted Musgrave (three wins: 2001)

In 1995, Mike Skinner won eight of the 20 series races and captured the championship. Like Sauter, he won three of the first seven races. None of the other drivers listed above went on to win the championship after posting three or more wins in the first seven races of the season.

Looking ahead to Texas, Sauter has visited Fort Worth 19 times in his career and has been very successful, winning four times. He has posted nine top fives, 15 top 10s and three poles. Matt Crafton is the only driver who has visited the track more than Sauter.

So far this season, Sauter hasn’t started outside of the top ten and has finished in the top-five in every race except for Martinsville, where he finished 21st.

In 2017, Sauter had his career-best tally with four wins. Only seven races into the 2018 season and he is one win away from tying that record.

Season Wins2014 12015 02016 32017 42018 3

It should be noted that of his 20 career wins, Sauter has won the most at Texas, with four victories followed by three each at Martinsville and Daytona.

The Wheel Is HisNASCAR national series drivers are not permitted to drive on tracks 1.5-miles in length or longer until they reach their 18th birthday

But Todd Gilliland doesn’t need to worry about that anymore, as the young racer out of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, celebrated his 18th birthday on May 15.

Gilliland has raced three times so far this season and only nine times total in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He made his first appearance on a 1.5-mile track in Charlotte last weekend for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 where he finished 10th after starting third

This was Gilliland’s first-time racing at his home track of Charlotte. Of the three races he has been in so far in 2018, he has gotten better and improved with each race. His first race was in Martinsville where he started 23rd and made his way up to finish 14th in the No. 4 Toyota. For the second time of his career, Gilliland traveled to the Monster Mile at Dover International Speedway where he started in third and finished in 10th, the exact same thing he did at Charlotte.

Gilliland has yet to post a win in his career with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series but for having only participated in nine races, he has made a solid name for himself. He has posted two top fives and five top 10s, meaning he has only placed 10th or worse four times. Two of those times were due to car issues with the suspension and transmission in his first two career series races.

Gilliland has only led one lap in his entire career, but it seems that could be changing as this season continues.

Gilliland’s father, David, ran his first race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2005. In 2009, he hit the track two more times and in 2015, he ran seven times. In 2018, he has raced twice, at Daytona and Dover. David has never won a race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Todd is already put up better numbers than his dad in the Truck Series. David has one top five and four top 10s. Although, David has one pole under his belt from the 2018 season opener at Daytona, where he drove Todd’s truck and finished 21st.

Takuma Sato back to defend Indy 500 victory with new team News & Observer Takuma Sato back to defend Indy 500 victory with new team ... years ago driving in Formula One, far and away its most popular motorsports series.www.newsobserver.com/sports/article211722854.html

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The sides and hood of the No. 43 will have the red, white and barbeque messaging to remind fans that summer is here and it's time to fire up the grill, while enjoying an ice cold Coca-Cola with family and friends. Of course, all your summer barbeque needs can be found at your local Kroger store, making this partnership the perfect way to celebrate the summer months ahead.

Wallace Jr. is a proud member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family and loves to barbeque with his family and friends. He's looking forward to his first Coca-Cola 600 and this new partnership.

"'I've been working with Coca-Cola for a long time and they have always been by my side," said Wallace Jr. "This is a cool partnership with Kroger to really start summer barbeques. I love hanging with my family and friends, firing up the grill and just relaxing and having a good time."

"I'm looking forward to my first Coca-Cola 600," added Wallace Jr. "I'm not really worried about the length of the race. I'm sure I'll be pretty fired up to go 600 miles. I think, for us, it's just a matter of having a good handle on our car and the track. We're working hard on our Camaro ZL1 package to get better. We're making gains and hopefully we can show that on Sunday."

"As families fire up the grill this Memorial Day weekend we brought together a great group of partners," said John Mount, Vice President, Marketing Assets and Activations, Coca-Cola. "Kroger, Coca-Cola, Richard Petty Motorsports and Bubba Wallace are a perfect combination to enable all to celebrate the joys of summer grilling and barbecue. Most importantly, this group has a deep appreciation for all the men and women that serve in our military. We are all looking forward to Honoring Our Heroes from our US Armed Forces this Memorial Day at the Coca-Cola 600"

Memorial Day is also a time to remember the brave men and women who fought for our freedom. And, this weekend, Richard Petty Motorsports, its partner United States Air Force, and NASCAR will remember Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Scott Duffman who gave his life in the line of duty while stationed in Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Duffman served as a Special Tactics Team Member, Pararescueman, and Special Tactics Instructor with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, from January 2001 until he was killed in the crash of an MH-47 Chinook helicopter near Kabul, Afghanistan, on February 18, 2007. Scott Duffman was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

"It's so important that we don't forget and honor our heroes of our country," stated Wallace Jr. "Our relationship with the U.S. Air Force is special and the NASCAR Salutes program, supported by Coca-Cola, allows us to recognize our servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice so we can race and live in freedom."

The Kroger Family of Stores is proud to honor the military this Memorial Day weekend with The Honoring Our Heroes campaign. Honoring Our Heroes is Kroger's way of saying thank you to our active duty service members and our nation's 23 million veterans. The Kroger Co. is committed to a nationwide initiative to help veterans and transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment opportunities, and has hired more than 43,000 veterans since 2009.

The Kroger Family of Stores also supports the military through their partnership with the USO. To-date Kroger and their customers have raised approximately $21M in support of the USO and will be donating another $1 million of corporate funds this year to the USO as part of our annual celebration of our country's service men and women. Through Kroger's partnership with the USO and with support from various Kroger vendors, Kroger will be hosting members of the USO and their families for a Kroger Red, White, and Barbecue themed cookout at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.

The Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for this Sunday, May 27. The race will be televised live on FOX at 6:00 p.m. ET and broadcast on the Performance Racing Network and SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Channel 90.

About Richard Petty MotorsportsA performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. RPM is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup history with 273 wins and has business partnerships with national and global leaders. Today the race operation fields the famed No. 43 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with driver Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. The team is headquartered in Welcome, N.C. and is supported by primary partners Click n' Close, STP and the United States Air Force.

About The Coca-Cola CompanyThe Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest total beverage company, offering over 500 brands to people in more than 200 countries. Of our 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 are available in lower- and no-sugar options to help people everywhere more easily control added sugar. In addition to our namesake Coca-Cola drinks, some of our household names around the world include: AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater, and Zico coconut water. At Coca-Cola, we're serious about making positive contributions to our world. That starts with reducing sugar in our drinks and bringing new and different drinks to people everywhere. It also means continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, creating rewarding careers for our associates, and bringing economic opportunity wherever we operate. In fact, together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people around the world. For more information, visit our digital magazine Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow The Coca-Cola Company on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The fairlife® brand is owned by fairlife, LLC, our joint venture with Select Milk Producers, Inc., and fairlife's products are distributed by our Company and certain of our bottling partners.

About KrogerAt The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are nearly half a million associates who serve nine million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. ... See MoreSee Less

Richard Childress Racing's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... In 160 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing teams have earned eight points-paying victories (four wins with Dale Earnhardt, one with Jeff Burton, two with Kevin Harvick and one with Austin Dillon) and four All-Star race victories (three with Earnhardt and one with Harvick), giving RCR 12 total Cup Series checkered flags at the Concord, N.C.-based track. RCR boasts 23 top-five and 52 top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile track. Childress, a former driver on NASCAR's senior circuit, contributed two of those top-10 finishes from 1978 to 1979. The Welcome, N.C. organization has led a combined 1,156 laps at the Charlotte facility.

RCR in the MENCS ... In 2,870 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,108 wins, 487 top-five finishes and 1,055 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.1. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, '87, '90, '91, '93 and '94, six NASCAR Xfinity Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR's three national series.

Catch the Action ... The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, May 27 beginning at 6 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This Week's Coca-Cola Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Dillon is the defending Coca-Cola 600 Champion, earning his career-first win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in May 2017. In total, Dillon has eight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with two top-10 finishes. He is a two-time winner at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The Coca-Cola Company ... The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest total beverage company, offering over 500 brands to people in more than 200 countries. Of our 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 are available in lower- and no-sugar options to help people everywhere more easily control added sugar. In addition to our namesake Coca-Cola drinks, some of our household names around the world include: AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater, and Zico coconut water. At Coca-Cola, we're serious about making positive contributions to our world. That starts with reducing sugar in our drinks and bringing new and different drinks to people everywhere. It also means continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, creating rewarding careers for our associates, and bringing economic opportunity wherever we operate. In fact, together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people around the world. For more information, visit our digital magazine Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow The Coca-Cola Company on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn .

Meet Dillon ... Fans in the Charlotte area have several chances to meet Dillon this week. On Wednesday, May 23, Dillon will sign autographs at RCR's Fan Appreciation Day at the RCR Museum in Welcome, N.C. from 10-11 a.m. On Thursday, May 24, Dillon is scheduled to join Ty Dillon, Ryan Newman and Richard Childress at Bass Pro Shops in Concord Mills Mall at 11 a.m. ET. You can also meet Dillon at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, May 25 at Childress Vineyards as part of the Honky Tonk Throwdown Pit Stops for Hope Benefit. Dillon is also scheduled to make an appearance at Coca-Cola Speed Street on Saturday, May 26 at 7 p.m. ET.

Austin Dillon's Honky Tonk Throwdown Pit Stops for Hope Benefit ... It's a one night two-step with No. 3! Celebrate with Dillon at Childress Vineyards on his win at the 2018 Daytona 500. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local tornado relief through Pit Stops for Hope. Saddle up for a night of bulls, boots, and bottles. Participate in a mechanical bull riding competition, Daisy Duke and vintage t-shirt contests with cash prizes, and much more! The event takes place on Friday, May 25 from 5-10 p.m. at Childress Vineyards (1000 Childress Vineyards Road, Lexington, NC 27295). For tickets, visit childressvineyards.ticketleap.com/austinhonkytonk/dates/May-25-2018_at_0500PM

Austin Dillon Quotes:Big weekend for you going back as the defending race winner and having Coca-Cola on your car for the weekend. How much confidence do you have going back to Charlotte Motor Speedway? "It is really cool to have a brand like Coca-Cola behind you at the Coke 600. Partnering with Coca-Cola and the USO on the car is really exciting. It's an awesome looking car. That red paint scheme looks great with the No. 3 there by it. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity."

Talk about Ryan Owens, who will be the military member on your windshield for the Coca-Cola 600. ... "It is always nice to have the opportunity to give back as we are running those 600 miles of remembrance to a family that has given so much to this country. Last year, we were able to share our whole race and race win with the family of Joshua Harris and this year with Ryan Owens on the car, hopefully we can do the same thing."

This Week's Liberty National Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Ryan Newman will make his 597th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start when he competes in the longest race of the season, the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night. In total at CMS, Newman has recorded runner-up finishes two times (fall, 2003; Coke 600, 2009) along with nine pole awards, five top-five, 15 top-10 finishes. The "Rocketman" has led 278 laps in competition. The South Bend, Indiana native has an average start of 9.5 and average finish of 17.7. When calculating points earned in the last 10 events at Charlotte, Newman ranks seventh in most points accumulated.

600 Miles of Remembrance ... The No. 31 team will be honoring U.S. Navy HM1 Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman Ryan Lohrey. Lohrey, like Newman, was a native of Indiana and entered basic training in 2007. He deployed with 2d Reconnaissance Battalion and later with the 2d Raider Battalion and served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. Lohrey lost his life on July 10, 2017, along with his Marine Raider teammates in a place crash in Mississippi.

Liberty National ... Ryan Newman, a Liberty National Life Insurance Company policyholder, will be behind the wheel of a Memorial Day themed Liberty National Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Liberty National has been in the insurance industry since 1900 and offers affordable life and supplemental health insurance to middle-income Americans through in-home and workplace sales. With local offices throughout the United States, Liberty National's Agency Owners will be featured on the hood of the No. 31 car in each of its primary races. Liberty National, Ryan Newman, and Richard Childress Racing share an admiration and appreciation for veterans who have served to protect our country. Liberty National hires former military and is proud to have many veterans call Liberty National their career homes today. Visit LNLCareers.com/Atlanta to learn more about career opportunities with Liberty National.

Pole to Pole ... Want to go fishing with Newman and then watch him compete Labor Day weekend? Register for your chance to win a fishing trip with the Cat® Racing driver along with a VIP experience in Darlington, S.C. Enter the Pole to Pole with Ryan Newman Sweepstakes: bit.ly/2GliiVw.

Meet Newman ... On Wednesday, May 23, Dillon will sign autographs at RCR's Fan Appreciation Day at the RCR Museum in Welcome, N.C. at 11.a.m. with crew chief Luke Lambert. Thursday Newman is scheduled to sign autographs along with Austin and Ty Dillon and Richard Childress at Bass Pro Shops at 11 a.m. Bass Pro Shops is located at the Concord Mills Mall by the Speedway Blvd. exit off Interstate 85. If you are at the track on Sunday, Newman is scheduled to participate in a question and answer session on behalf of Coca-Cola Racing at the Pit Party Stage starting at 2:20 p.m. inside Turn 1. Fans will need to upgrade their race ticket to receive a Pit Party pass to attend. To upgrade, visit: www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/coca-cola-600/. At 2:45 p.m., he'll stop by the Chevy Stage to greet fans as well.

Rescue Ranch Founder's Dinner ... Tickets are available now for the Rescue Ranch Founder's Dinner. Join Krissie on June 7th for a fun evening highlighting the importance of agriculture in Iredell County and featuring fresh local food. To purchase tickets, visit: bit.ly/2KKbjc7.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:What is the most important thing to get right for a chance to win the Coca-Cola 600?"A lot about this race is speed and durability. It's the longest race of the year, and everyone knows that. The track typically goes through a lot of changes over the course of the night. Keeping yourself in the game is really what it is all about. The last thing you want is a bad pit stop under green. Things like that that will put you a lap down and pretty much out of the race. It's really similar to how you race the Daytona 500. It's all about keeping all the simple things in check, but you also must have a fast race car to be there in the end."

What is the most challenging aspect of this race?"The challenge for the Coca-Cola 600 is predicting how the track well change, how the temperature fluctuations, how will the grip move around. It's a crap shoot so-to-speak on predicting what changes are going to happen throughout the night and the team that's able to anticipate and stay ahead of the curve best will be tough to beat."

How hard is it to stay focused for 600 miles? "The stages definitely help break things up. It's a long race both physically and mentally. It's the toughest race we have. Physically you must be hydrated properly because if it is hot out, it tough to have that much fluid to be that warm for that long. When your physical parts start to fail, your mental well-being shortly follows because you start worrying about things and losing focus is not what you want to happen when you are going 200 miles-per-hour."

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... In 92 Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, RCR has captured four victories with drivers Jeff Green (2002), Jeff Burton (2007) and Austin Dillon (2015). The Welcome, North Carolina organization has completed 17,534 laps of the 18,407 (95.3 percent) that they have competed. RCR has accumulated eight pole awards, 24 top-five and 50 top-10 finishes, led 745 laps and averages a starting position of 10.8 and finishing position of 12.4.

Dover Review ... Daniel Hemric was the highest RCR finisher in third, with Matt Tifft and Jeb Burton finishing eighth and 12th, respectively, in the OneMain Financial 200 at Dover International Speedway.

The Points ... Daniel Hemric and Matt Tifft currently sit fifth and 10th, respectively, in the Xfinity Series driver point standings. The No. 3 RCR team is currently 14th in the series owner point standings.

Catch the Action ... Coverage of this week's Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, May 26, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX Sports 1. It will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.

This Week's KCMG Chevrolet Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Matt Tifft has three previous NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in which he collected two top-10 finishes. His best result of eighth came in October 2016.Tifft also has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, earning two top-10 starting spots, one top-five and two top-10 finishes. He has completed 100 percent of all laps he has attempted at the speedway.

About KCMG ... KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Dr. Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across Europe and the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies and racing organizations around the world to provide unrivalled Motorsport Services, Equipment, Team Management and quality distributorship in the Automotive Industry. 2013 saw KCMG become the first Chinese outfit ever to race at the world famous Le Mans 24 Hours in its 90-year history and participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The Hong Kong-based team later on took an historic LMP2 victory at Le Mans and was Vice Champion in FIA WEC in 2015. With years in the motorsport industry, KCMG has been involved in a wide range of Formula, GT and Le Mans prototype endurance racing series across the globe. For more information please visit www.kcmg.com.hk or email info@kcmg.hk.

Little 600 ... Tifft competed in Go Pro Motorplex's fifth annual Little 600 on Tuesday, May 22. Fans are invited to come out to the motorplex to watch as some of NASCAR's top drivers battle bumper-to-bumper in go-karts to help kick off the Coca-Cola 600 weekend. Gates open at 5 p.m. local time. Visit gopromotorplex.com for more details.

RCR Fan Appreciation Day ... Fans have the opportunity to meet Tifft when he appears along side his RCR Xfinity Series teammates for an autograph session at 2 p.m. local time during RCR's Fan Appreciation Day on Wednesday, May 23. 150 wristbands will be passed out for this session at the RCR Museum and Team Store located at 236 Industrial Drive, Lexington, NC 27295. Visit store.rcrracing.comto learn more.

Meet Tifft ... Tifft will be appearing at the Team Chevy Stage for a Q&A session beginning at 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 24. Fans can find the stage located in Charlotte Motor Speedway's Fan Zone.

MATT TIFFT QUOTES:This weekend Cup drivers are back in the field after not being in the four Dash 4 Cash races. What has it been like for you not having them in the field, and what do you expect this weekend with them in the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway? "I think not having the Cup drivers in the field was a nice preview for the rest of the season since they won't be in any of the playoff races. I think those races had some of the best racing so far in the Xfinity Series this season, so that's a positive to look forward to. I think even with the Cup guys back in the field, the same cars that were fast the past couple of weeks will still be fast. The best teams always rise to the top, and everyone else is still trying to close that gap. I think this week is an opportunity to prove that we've grown as a team since the April Texas race, which was the last time we raced against the Cup guys. It will be cool to see where we stack up against them now that a little time has passed."

Is racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway extra special seeing as it is a lot of teams' home track?"Yeah I think it is. In one view, it's another 1.5-mile track, which we have a lot of in the playoffs, so it's another chance for us to gain some knowledge on those types of tracks. We have the Roval the next time we're at Charlotte, but there are still things we can learn this weekend to help us in the fall. Getting the idea of a hot, slick intermediate track is still very important since that also makes up a huge chunk of the summer. This weekend is a good test to see where our car is at with those handling characteristics. The first few races we've had this year have been freezing with overcast temperatures, so we haven't had much of a chance to learn as we normally do on these types of tracks. But for sure when you're this close to home, you definitely want that win. It's fun for the crew guys to be able to come and bring their families out to the track to see what we do every weekend, so you definitely have a pressure to perform well."

This Week's Nexium® 24HR Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Ty Dillon has eight previous starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, earning four top-10 finishes. His highest finish of sixth place came in the fall of 2015. Dillon also has two previous starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at the 1.5-mile track, and he scored his best finish of 21st place in the fall of 2017. He has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Charlotte. He won the pole award in 2012 and followed that up with a second-place starting position in 2013. Dillon earned top-10 finishes in both races, earning his best finish of fifth place in 2013.

No Heartburn for Dillon ... When it comes to treating heartburn, use the brand more doctors and pharmacists choose for their own frequent heartburn. A Nexium® 24HR regimen - just one pill a day, every day for 14 days - gives you the complete protection from frequent heartburn that you're looking for.

Meet Dillon ... Fans will have multiple opportunities to meet Dillon throughout the weekend in Charlotte, NC. On Wednesday afternoon, he will appear at RCR Fan Appreciation day to meet fans and sign autographs from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET. The following day, he will join Richard Childress, Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman at Bass Pro Shops on Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. ET. Autograph wristbands will be given out to the first 150 people in line at 10:00 a.m. ET prior to the appearance. Dillon will also be around town on Friday afternoon, appearing at the Walmart Supercenter on Thunder Road in Concord, NC, with Nexium® 24HR to sign autographs beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. He will then head to Speed Street where he will visit the GEICO display from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. ET to meet fans.

TY DILLON QUOTE:What are your thoughts as you climb back into a Xfinity Series car for the first time since Texas at the beginning of April?"I will definitely have to get back into the swing of Xfinity racing this weekend, but I've had so much experience in these cars that it will be like riding a bike when I get into our Nexium® 24HR Chevrolet. I've raced so many times at Charlotte that I've gotten a handle of how to work with the car as the track changes with the temperature and weather. It's such a sensitive racetrack, but our team knows that we need to be ready for anything and adjust accordingly. I, of course, like having the extra seat time. It doesn't always translate as much to the Cup car in preparing for Sunday, but this track in particular is such a challenge that it's fun to do both races. It certainly keeps you on your toes and prepares you for Sunday in that sense."

Richard Childress Racing's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... In 160 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing teams have earned eight points-paying victories (four wins with Dale Earnhardt, one with Jeff Burton, two with Kevin Harvick and one with Austin Dillon) and four All-Star race victories (three with Earnhardt and one with Harvick), giving RCR 12 total Cup Series checkered flags at the Concord, N.C.-based track. RCR boasts 23 top-five and 52 top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile track. Childress, a former driver on NASCAR's senior circuit, contributed two of those top-10 finishes from 1978 to 1979. The Welcome, N.C. organization has led a combined 1,156 laps at the Charlotte facility.

RCR in the MENCS ... In 2,870 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,108 wins, 487 top-five finishes and 1,055 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.1. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, '87, '90, '91, '93 and '94, six NASCAR Xfinity Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR's three national series.

Catch the Action ... The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, May 27 beginning at 6 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This Week's Coca-Cola Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Dillon is the defending Coca-Cola 600 Champion, earning his career-first win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in May 2017. In total, Dillon has eight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with two top-10 finishes. He is a two-time winner at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The Coca-Cola Company ... The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest total beverage company, offering over 500 brands to people in more than 200 countries. Of our 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 are available in lower- and no-sugar options to help people everywhere more easily control added sugar. In addition to our namesake Coca-Cola drinks, some of our household names around the world include: AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater, and Zico coconut water. At Coca-Cola, we're serious about making positive contributions to our world. That starts with reducing sugar in our drinks and bringing new and different drinks to people everywhere. It also means continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, creating rewarding careers for our associates, and bringing economic opportunity wherever we operate. In fact, together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people around the world. For more information, visit our digital magazine Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow The Coca-Cola Company on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn .

Meet Dillon ... Fans in the Charlotte area have several chances to meet Dillon this week. On Wednesday, May 23, Dillon will sign autographs at RCR's Fan Appreciation Day at the RCR Museum in Welcome, N.C. from 10-11 a.m. On Thursday, May 24, Dillon is scheduled to join Ty Dillon, Ryan Newman and Richard Childress at Bass Pro Shops in Concord Mills Mall at 11 a.m. ET. You can also meet Dillon at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, May 25 at Childress Vineyards as part of the Honky Tonk Throwdown Pit Stops for Hope Benefit. Dillon is also scheduled to make an appearance at Coca-Cola Speed Street on Saturday, May 26 at 7 p.m. ET.

Austin Dillon's Honky Tonk Throwdown Pit Stops for Hope Benefit ... It's a one night two-step with No. 3! Celebrate with Dillon at Childress Vineyards on his win at the 2018 Daytona 500. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local tornado relief through Pit Stops for Hope. Saddle up for a night of bulls, boots, and bottles. Participate in a mechanical bull riding competition, Daisy Duke and vintage t-shirt contests with cash prizes, and much more! The event takes place on Friday, May 25 from 5-10 p.m. at Childress Vineyards (1000 Childress Vineyards Road, Lexington, NC 27295). For tickets, visit childressvineyards.ticketleap.com/austinhonkytonk/dates/May-25-2018_at_0500PM

Austin Dillon Quotes:Big weekend for you going back as the defending race winner and having Coca-Cola on your car for the weekend. How much confidence do you have going back to Charlotte Motor Speedway? "It is really cool to have a brand like Coca-Cola behind you at the Coke 600. Partnering with Coca-Cola and the USO on the car is really exciting. It's an awesome looking car. That red paint scheme looks great with the No. 3 there by it. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity."

Talk about Ryan Owens, who will be the military member on your windshield for the Coca-Cola 600. ... "It is always nice to have the opportunity to give back as we are running those 600 miles of remembrance to a family that has given so much to this country. Last year, we were able to share our whole race and race win with the family of Joshua Harris and this year with Ryan Owens on the car, hopefully we can do the same thing."

This Week's Liberty National Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Ryan Newman will make his 597th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start when he competes in the longest race of the season, the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night. In total at CMS, Newman has recorded runner-up finishes two times (fall, 2003; Coke 600, 2009) along with nine pole awards, five top-five, 15 top-10 finishes. The "Rocketman" has led 278 laps in competition. The South Bend, Indiana native has an average start of 9.5 and average finish of 17.7. When calculating points earned in the last 10 events at Charlotte, Newman ranks seventh in most points accumulated.

600 Miles of Remembrance ... The No. 31 team will be honoring U.S. Navy HM1 Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman Ryan Lohrey. Lohrey, like Newman, was a native of Indiana and entered basic training in 2007. He deployed with 2d Reconnaissance Battalion and later with the 2d Raider Battalion and served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. Lohrey lost his life on July 10, 2017, along with his Marine Raider teammates in a place crash in Mississippi.

Liberty National ... Ryan Newman, a Liberty National Life Insurance Company policyholder, will be behind the wheel of a Memorial Day themed Liberty National Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Liberty National has been in the insurance industry since 1900 and offers affordable life and supplemental health insurance to middle-income Americans through in-home and workplace sales. With local offices throughout the United States, Liberty National's Agency Owners will be featured on the hood of the No. 31 car in each of its primary races. Liberty National, Ryan Newman, and Richard Childress Racing share an admiration and appreciation for veterans who have served to protect our country. Liberty National hires former military and is proud to have many veterans call Liberty National their career homes today. Visit LNLCareers.com/Atlanta to learn more about career opportunities with Liberty National.

Pole to Pole ... Want to go fishing with Newman and then watch him compete Labor Day weekend? Register for your chance to win a fishing trip with the Cat® Racing driver along with a VIP experience in Darlington, S.C. Enter the Pole to Pole with Ryan Newman Sweepstakes: bit.ly/2GliiVw.

Meet Newman ... On Wednesday, May 23, Dillon will sign autographs at RCR's Fan Appreciation Day at the RCR Museum in Welcome, N.C. at 11.a.m. with crew chief Luke Lambert. Thursday Newman is scheduled to sign autographs along with Austin and Ty Dillon and Richard Childress at Bass Pro Shops at 11 a.m. Bass Pro Shops is located at the Concord Mills Mall by the Speedway Blvd. exit off Interstate 85. If you are at the track on Sunday, Newman is scheduled to participate in a question and answer session on behalf of Coca-Cola Racing at the Pit Party Stage starting at 2:20 p.m. inside Turn 1. Fans will need to upgrade their race ticket to receive a Pit Party pass to attend. To upgrade, visit: www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/coca-cola-600/. At 2:45 p.m., he'll stop by the Chevy Stage to greet fans as well.

Rescue Ranch Founder's Dinner ... Tickets are available now for the Rescue Ranch Founder's Dinner. Join Krissie on June 7th for a fun evening highlighting the importance of agriculture in Iredell County and featuring fresh local food. To purchase tickets, visit: bit.ly/2KKbjc7.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:What is the most important thing to get right for a chance to win the Coca-Cola 600?"A lot about this race is speed and durability. It's the longest race of the year, and everyone knows that. The track typically goes through a lot of changes over the course of the night. Keeping yourself in the game is really what it is all about. The last thing you want is a bad pit stop under green. Things like that that will put you a lap down and pretty much out of the race. It's really similar to how you race the Daytona 500. It's all about keeping all the simple things in check, but you also must have a fast race car to be there in the end."

What is the most challenging aspect of this race?"The challenge for the Coca-Cola 600 is predicting how the track well change, how the temperature fluctuations, how will the grip move around. It's a crap shoot so-to-speak on predicting what changes are going to happen throughout the night and the team that's able to anticipate and stay ahead of the curve best will be tough to beat."

How hard is it to stay focused for 600 miles? "The stages definitely help break things up. It's a long race both physically and mentally. It's the toughest race we have. Physically you must be hydrated properly because if it is hot out, it tough to have that much fluid to be that warm for that long. When your physical parts start to fail, your mental well-being shortly follows because you start worrying about things and losing focus is not what you want to happen when you are going 200 miles-per-hour."

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... In 92 Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, RCR has captured four victories with drivers Jeff Green (2002), Jeff Burton (2007) and Austin Dillon (2015). The Welcome, North Carolina organization has completed 17,534 laps of the 18,407 (95.3 percent) that they have competed. RCR has accumulated eight pole awards, 24 top-five and 50 top-10 finishes, led 745 laps and averages a starting position of 10.8 and finishing position of 12.4.

Dover Review ... Daniel Hemric was the highest RCR finisher in third, with Matt Tifft and Jeb Burton finishing eighth and 12th, respectively, in the OneMain Financial 200 at Dover International Speedway.

The Points ... Daniel Hemric and Matt Tifft currently sit fifth and 10th, respectively, in the Xfinity Series driver point standings. The No. 3 RCR team is currently 14th in the series owner point standings.

Catch the Action ... Coverage of this week's Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, May 26, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX Sports 1. It will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.

This Week's KCMG Chevrolet Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Matt Tifft has three previous NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in which he collected two top-10 finishes. His best result of eighth came in October 2016.Tifft also has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, earning two top-10 starting spots, one top-five and two top-10 finishes. He has completed 100 percent of all laps he has attempted at the speedway.

About KCMG ... KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Dr. Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across Europe and the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies and racing organizations around the world to provide unrivalled Motorsport Services, Equipment, Team Management and quality distributorship in the Automotive Industry. 2013 saw KCMG become the first Chinese outfit ever to race at the world famous Le Mans 24 Hours in its 90-year history and participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The Hong Kong-based team later on took an historic LMP2 victory at Le Mans and was Vice Champion in FIA WEC in 2015. With years in the motorsport industry, KCMG has been involved in a wide range of Formula, GT and Le Mans prototype endurance racing series across the globe. For more information please visit www.kcmg.com.hk or email info@kcmg.hk.

Little 600 ... Tifft competed in Go Pro Motorplex's fifth annual Little 600 on Tuesday, May 22. Fans are invited to come out to the motorplex to watch as some of NASCAR's top drivers battle bumper-to-bumper in go-karts to help kick off the Coca-Cola 600 weekend. Gates open at 5 p.m. local time. Visit gopromotorplex.com for more details.

RCR Fan Appreciation Day ... Fans have the opportunity to meet Tifft when he appears along side his RCR Xfinity Series teammates for an autograph session at 2 p.m. local time during RCR's Fan Appreciation Day on Wednesday, May 23. 150 wristbands will be passed out for this session at the RCR Museum and Team Store located at 236 Industrial Drive, Lexington, NC 27295. Visit store.rcrracing.comto learn more.

Meet Tifft ... Tifft will be appearing at the Team Chevy Stage for a Q&A session beginning at 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 24. Fans can find the stage located in Charlotte Motor Speedway's Fan Zone.

MATT TIFFT QUOTES:This weekend Cup drivers are back in the field after not being in the four Dash 4 Cash races. What has it been like for you not having them in the field, and what do you expect this weekend with them in the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway? "I think not having the Cup drivers in the field was a nice preview for the rest of the season since they won't be in any of the playoff races. I think those races had some of the best racing so far in the Xfinity Series this season, so that's a positive to look forward to. I think even with the Cup guys back in the field, the same cars that were fast the past couple of weeks will still be fast. The best teams always rise to the top, and everyone else is still trying to close that gap. I think this week is an opportunity to prove that we've grown as a team since the April Texas race, which was the last time we raced against the Cup guys. It will be cool to see where we stack up against them now that a little time has passed."

Is racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway extra special seeing as it is a lot of teams' home track?"Yeah I think it is. In one view, it's another 1.5-mile track, which we have a lot of in the playoffs, so it's another chance for us to gain some knowledge on those types of tracks. We have the Roval the next time we're at Charlotte, but there are still things we can learn this weekend to help us in the fall. Getting the idea of a hot, slick intermediate track is still very important since that also makes up a huge chunk of the summer. This weekend is a good test to see where our car is at with those handling characteristics. The first few races we've had this year have been freezing with overcast temperatures, so we haven't had much of a chance to learn as we normally do on these types of tracks. But for sure when you're this close to home, you definitely want that win. It's fun for the crew guys to be able to come and bring their families out to the track to see what we do every weekend, so you definitely have a pressure to perform well."

This Week's Nexium® 24HR Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Ty Dillon has eight previous starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, earning four top-10 finishes. His highest finish of sixth place came in the fall of 2015. Dillon also has two previous starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at the 1.5-mile track, and he scored his best finish of 21st place in the fall of 2017. He has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Charlotte. He won the pole award in 2012 and followed that up with a second-place starting position in 2013. Dillon earned top-10 finishes in both races, earning his best finish of fifth place in 2013.

No Heartburn for Dillon ... When it comes to treating heartburn, use the brand more doctors and pharmacists choose for their own frequent heartburn. A Nexium® 24HR regimen - just one pill a day, every day for 14 days - gives you the complete protection from frequent heartburn that you're looking for.

Meet Dillon ... Fans will have multiple opportunities to meet Dillon throughout the weekend in Charlotte, NC. On Wednesday afternoon, he will appear at RCR Fan Appreciation day to meet fans and sign autographs from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET. The following day, he will join Richard Childress, Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman at Bass Pro Shops on Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. ET. Autograph wristbands will be given out to the first 150 people in line at 10:00 a.m. ET prior to the appearance. Dillon will also be around town on Friday afternoon, appearing at the Walmart Supercenter on Thunder Road in Concord, NC, with Nexium® 24HR to sign autographs beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. He will then head to Speed Street where he will visit the GEICO display from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. ET to meet fans.

TY DILLON QUOTE:What are your thoughts as you climb back into a Xfinity Series car for the first time since Texas at the beginning of April?"I will definitely have to get back into the swing of Xfinity racing this weekend, but I've had so much experience in these cars that it will be like riding a bike when I get into our Nexium® 24HR Chevrolet. I've raced so many times at Charlotte that I've gotten a handle of how to work with the car as the track changes with the temperature and weather. It's such a sensitive racetrack, but our team knows that we need to be ready for anything and adjust accordingly. I, of course, like having the extra seat time. It doesn't always translate as much to the Cup car in preparing for Sunday, but this track in particular is such a challenge that it's fun to do both races. It certainly keeps you on your toes and prepares you for Sunday in that sense."

This Week's South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway ... Kannapolis, North Carolina, native Daniel Hemric has two previous NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hemric has an average start of 6.0 and an average finish of 10.0. He has also completed 100 percent of the laps attempted in his two starts. He also has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile track and has won numerous U.S. Legends Car events on the facility's quarter-mile track, including the inaugural Legends Car Million.

Rearview Mirror: Dover ... Hemric's strong start to the 2018 Xfinity Series season continued at the 'Monster Mile,' where the driver of the No. 21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro recorded his third third-place finish in five races. Starting from the fifth position, Hemric earned points in both stages and really came to life in Stage 3. With less than 50 laps to go, Hemric was chasing down race leader Justin Allgaier when the caution flew and bunched the field up for a restart with 27 laps to go. Lined up on the bottom groove, Hemric dropped to third on the restart and was catching the leaders when the checkered flag flew. The third-place finish was Hemric's fourth top-five and sixth top-10 finish in 10 races.

This Week at the South Point Hotel & Casino ... Fans visiting the South Point Hotel & Casino this week have the opportunity to see stand-up comedian Louie Anderson at The Showroom on May 25 - May 27. Tickets are available at southpointcasino.com.

Meet the Driver ... Fans have the opportunity to meet Hemric at the 600 Festival's Speed Street event in Uptown Charlotte on Friday, May 25, starting at 6 p.m. local time. The autograph session will take place on the corner of Third Street and Tryon Street.

Meet the Press ... Hemric is schedule to meet with the NASCAR media at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 24, starting at 2 p.m. local time. Fans can watch the media availability session on NASCAR.com/presspass.

DANIEL HEMRIC QUOTES:You recently had an open test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. What did you learn there that you can apply to this weekend's Alsco 300?"We just need to have a solid run at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is our first race back on a mile-and-a-half in a little while, but we had a solid test session a few weeks ago and learned some things that will hopefully pay off this weekend. We'll just look to build our program. That's what this is all about. If you get complacent in this sport, you get behind quickly. I'll raise my hand and say that is easy to do and it has happened in the past, but our goal at RCR is to get ahead of that and ahead of the game. I feel like we've taken so many strides to do just that and Charlotte will be a big test for us. This No. 21 South Point Hotel & Casino team has been really strong as of late and we believe that will continue during this weekend's Alsco 300."

The Xfinity Series is welcoming back the Cup Series drivers this weekend after four straight races with Xfinity regulars only. What are your thoughts on having them return to the series at Charlotte?"I'm excited to have the Cup drivers back in the Xfinity Series. I'm a fan of the Xfinity Series regulars only races, but I'm also a fan of the Cup drivers coming back to race with us. When it is just Xfinity Series regulars, we know that every single position is impacting our season. That is not necessarily always the case with the Cup drivers. During those four Xfinity regulars only races, we've all found another level of aggression to race with each other. Hopefully we continue that aggressive racing no matter who is in the field and we continue to give the fans the good show they deserve. Having the Cup drivers in the field allows us to push ourselves to that much greater of a level. It will be good to get that push again this weekend." ... See MoreSee Less

NASCAR’s Winningest Owner Bound for Hall of Fame CONCORD, N.C. (May 23, 2018) – Jack Roush has been fielding NASCAR entries for the past 31 years, and during that time his teams have amassed a NASCAR record 325 victories, while covering over 1.78 million miles in NASCAR action and bringing home eight championships. Roush’s lifetime of achievement was rewarded Wednesday evening, when he was named a member of the 2019 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.In 1988 Roush ventured into the unknown territory of NASCAR racing, starting a single car team out of Liberty, N.C. His No. 6 Ford Thunderbird lasted only 19 laps in its Daytona 500 debut that year. Thirty years later, Roush stands amongst the greatest in the sport’s celebrated history. Roush has fielded over 5,908 entries in NASCAR competition, while leading over 67,421 laps.Known as a leader in the garage for finding and developing talent, Roush has seen 19 different drivers win in NASCAR competition in his race cars – including nine in the Cup Series and six different drivers bring home NASCAR season championships. In addition, six different drivers have won 14 or more races in Roush’s Fords at the Cup level, with three of those drivers posting over 20 victories at NASCAR’s highest level. In total, 52 different drivers have piloted Roush’s Fords across NASCAR’s three major series.Roush’s multi-car efficiency of scale model became one of the most successful in NASCAR history, with his organization placing an unprecedented five teams in the 2005 10-team ‘Chase’, after coming off back-to-back Cup Championships in 2003 and 2004. Roush has also been recognized as one of the premier leaders in the garage in driver development, with Roush Fenway having led drivers to 13 NASCAR Rookie of the Year Awards.An engineer at heart, Roush has always employed a solutions-based approach, be it in competition, business or safety initiatives. He has been involved in numerous safety innovations, including the roof flaps designed to disrupt airflow and prevent cars from going airborne that now are standard equipment for all NASCAR racers.Roush becomes the second person with Roush Fenway Racing ties to be inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame. Mark Martin - the first driver to drive for Roush in NASCAR - was inducted into the Hall of Fame last January. Martin piloted Roush Fenway’s flagship No. 6 Ford from 1988 until 2006. During that time, he and Roush earned 35 Cup victories. At the end of his tenure at Roush Fenway, Martin held a record five prestigious IROC (International Race of Champions) Championships and a then-record 47 NASCAR XFINITY Series wins. For his career, Martin posted 96 career NASCAR victories, with the majority coming in Roush-owned equipment. ... See MoreSee Less

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 23, 2018) – NASCAR announced today the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019. The five-person group – the 10th since the inception of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 – consists of Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Jeff Gordon, Roger Penske and Jack Roush. In addition, NASCAR announced that Jim Hunter earned the 2019 Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The distinguished group will be honored during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Feb. 1, 2019.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 20 nominees for the induction class of 2019 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

The Class of 2019 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and, for the fifth year, the reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion (Martin Truex Jr.). In all, 57 votes were cast, with two additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Ricky Rudd and Waddell Wilson). The accounting firm of EY presided over the tabulation of the votes.

The Class of 2019 Induction Weekend is set for Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, through Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The official Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. The Class of 2019 marks the 10th class and a total of 50 legends inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. To celebrate the momentous occasion, new events and special programs have been added throughout the extended weekend.

Tickets to Induction Ceremony events begin at $75 per person (plus tax and applicable service fees). Tickets go on sale on Saturday, June 9, 2018, at 10 a.m. ET. A special pre-sale will be available to NASCAR Hall of Fame members Wednesday, May 30, 2018, through Friday, June 8, 2018. To learn about becoming a NASCAR Hall of Fame member, visit nascarhall.com/membership. For additional details about the Class of 2019 Induction Weekend schedule and ticket packages, visit nascarhall.com/inductees/induction-ceremony.

Class of 2019 Inductees:

Davey AllisonDavey Allison was born with speed. The son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison grew up more interested in football, but could not escape the racing bug, following his father into the family profession. The younger Allison honed his skills at local Alabama tracks, getting his big break in 1987, taking over for legendary driver Cale Yarborough in Ranier-Lundy’s Ford Thunderbird. Allison spent no time continuing the family’s legacy, compiling two wins, five poles and nine top fives in his full-season debut to capture 1987 premier series rookie of the year. Allison won 19 races and 14 poles, including the 1992 Daytona 500, before his tragic death in a helicopter accident in 1993.

Jeff GordonBlessed with once-in-a-generation talent and charisma, Jeff Gordon helped take NASCAR from a regional sport to the mainstream. Gordon took NASCAR by storm in the 1990s, becoming the youngest driver in the modern era to win a premier series title as a 24-year-old in 1995. He went on to win three more championships (1997, ’98, 2001). In 1998, Gordon led the Rainbow Warriors – named for his colorful No. 24 Chevrolet – to a modern era-record 13 wins. Overall, he won 93 races, which ranks third on the all-time wins list. Gordon is a three-time Daytona 500 champion and won the Brickyard 400 a record five times.

Alan KulwickiNoted Wisconsin short-track racer Alan Kulwicki moved to Charlotte in 1984 with nothing but a pickup truck, a self-built race car and the hopes of competing in NASCAR’s highest series. He had no sponsor and a limited budget. Kulwicki burst onto the scene as the 1986 NASCAR Rookie of the Year with his self-owned AK Racing team. Throughout his career, Kulwicki received lucrative offers from powerhouse race teams, but insisted on racing for himself. That determination eventually led to his first of five career victories at Phoenix in 1988. His signature season was his championship-winning 1992 campaign, where Kulwicki overcame a 278-point deficit with six races remaining to capture the NASCAR premier series title. Kulwicki never got the chance to defend his title, dying in a plane crash in 1993.

Roger PenskeA true captain of industry, Roger Penske has steered one of the most successful motorsports ships in the sport’s history. Penske, who celebrated his 50th anniversary in racing in 2016, reached a major milestone and collected a prestigious award during the golden anniversary season. That year, he reached 100 wins in NASCAR’s premier series and capped off the season by receiving the Bill France Award of Excellence. Penske won the premier series championship in 2012 with driver Brad Keselowski, and owns two Daytona 500 wins with Ryan Newman in 2008 and Joey Logano in 2015. And from 2013-15, Penske tied a record with three consecutive owner championship in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Off the track, Penske likewise makes an indelible mark. He built the two-mile Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California in 1996, and previously owned Michigan International Speedway.

Jack RoushOnce a Michigan-based drag racing owner and enthusiast, Jack Roush made his best motorsports decision when he turned south in 1988 to start a NASCAR team. Since beginning Roush Racing (now known as Roush Fenway Racing), the graduate-level mathematician turned engineering entrepreneur has won a record 325 races across NASCAR’s three national series. Overall, Roush boasts five NASCAR national series owner championships, while his drivers have won an additional three driver championships. Roush has displayed a prowess for discovering and developing talent. He helped Matt Kenseth (2003) and Kurt Busch (2004) grow into premier series champions and also jumpstarted the careers of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.

Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR:

Jim HunterThroughout his career, Jim Hunter left an indelible mark on NASCAR and those associated with the sport. His wit and wisdom helped guide NASCAR’s growth during portions of six decades as a company executive, track president, public relations professional and journalist. Hunter broke into the motorsports business as a member of the media in the 1950s. He worked as the sports editor of the Columbia Record, was an award-winning reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and columnist for Stock Car Racing magazine. He moved to the public relations side of the business with Dodge in the 1960s before serving as public relations director at Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. In 1993, he became president of Darlington Raceway and corporate vice president of the International Speedway Corporation. He remained at Darlington until 2001 when he accepted an offer from Bill France Jr. to return to NASCAR to lead an expanded public relations effort aimed at responding to the needs of burgeoning media coverage.

About NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series, three international series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

About the NASCAR Hall of FameConveniently located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010, and includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Productions-operated broadcast studio. The venue is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. seven days a week and has an attached parking garage on Brevard Street. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000-square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. Learn more at nascarhall.com. ... See MoreSee Less

Scott Steckly to be Honoured with Canadian MotorsportsHall of Fame Induction

Milverton, ON, Wednesday May 23, 2018: It is with great pleasure that 22 Racing announce today that team owner Scott Steckly is being inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame as a former driver. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday Oct. 20, 2018 at the Glenn Gould Theatre in Toronto.

Scott Steckly is a four-time NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion recording 19 wins, 17 poles and leading an unprecedented 4,829 laps during his nine years racing in this series. He also holds the distinction of being one of only 38 drivers in NASCAR history to have won four or more championships.

“This is such an amazing honour and I am so proud to be included with this remarkable group of inductees.” said Scott Steckly owner of 22 Racing. “Its something I‘ve never given any thought to but now that it is happening it’s a little overwhelming. I couldn’t have done any of this without the incredible team of people and the fantastic sponsors I’m blessed to be able to work with, so this award is for all of them as well. My family have inspired me to be the best I can be and their confidence in me also helped achieve all of this and for that I am very thankful.”

Steckly has firmly set his sights on winning more championships now as a team owner with his 22 Racing team fielding cars for other drivers. In 2018 he owns and prepares cars for three full time teams. Past Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Alex Tagliani plus highly skilled drivers Marc-Antoine Camirand and Donald Theetge make a run for the Team Owner championship in 2018 a real possibility.

“I have to say that retiring from racing was a difficult decision but one that was best for the business of 22 Racing and I feel I still have a lot left to accomplish in motorsports including wins and more championships.” added Steckly. ... See MoreSee Less

Patrick County, Virginia, has produced its share of heroes over the years. Some, like the Wood Brothers, came to fame through their success in automobile racing, where the family team still fields the No. 21 Menards/Knauf Ford Fusion driven by Paul Menard.

Others, like First Lt. Leevi Barnard, are heroes because of their service to their country.

Lt. Barnard made the ultimate sacrifice on May 21, 2009, when he died as the result of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The incident occurred in Dora Market, near Baghdad where his unit was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lt. Barnard, who was 28 when he was killed in action, was commissioned after participating in the U.S. Army ROTC program at UNC Charlotte.

He originally planned to pursue an aviation career but became a Field Artillery Officer instead.

Barnard had a minor in Arabic Studies from UNC-Charlotte, and according to his mother, used that part of his education as well as his service in the Army because he wanted to make a difference.

Among the honors he received were the Bronze Star Medal, The Order of the Purple Heart Medal, as well as the Global War on Terrorism Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal.

Barnard’s sister Meredith Fronk said Leevi was a typical brother.

“He was sarcastic and liked to pick on us a lot - I guess he picked on pretty much everyone that he liked - but was also protective of us,” she said. “We fought as kids, but we were friends as adults, and I imagine we would have gotten closer over the years, which is the toughest part for me.”

Barnard’s childhood friends like Ryan Carter weren’t surprised he chose a career in which he could serve his fellow Americans.

“He was a humble kid,” Carter said. “He was loved by everyone that he came into contact with. As a young man he always wanted to be outside, whether hunting, fishing or playing baseball.”

“When he got older he spent time playing softball for his church. He was a great friend to anyone that knew him and was always willing to help.”

Carter said Barnard became a soldier because he wanted to do something for his fellow Americans.

“He told me that the reason he chose a military career was to ‘preserve the freedoms we have today,’” Carter said. “He always wanted people to be able to make ‘choices.’”

Carter said that seeing Leevi Barnard’s name on the Wood Brothers’ No. Ford this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, almost nine years to the day since he died, will be an experience he’ll always cherish.

“While I would rather have my best friend here, it means the world to me and his family to have him honored this weekend,” Carter said. “While I know it would not happen, I do not want his ultimate sacrifice to be forgotten.”

“So by the Wood Brothers honoring him, his name can continue to be remembered by others.”

“Patrick County is small, so even though he was from a different part of the county, we’d occasionally end up on the same team,” Wood said. “We went to the same high school, but he was a couple of years ahead of me so we lost touch, but he was always just a stand-up guy.”

Wood said the NASCAR Salutes program, of which the “600 Miles of Remembrance” is a part, allows each team to choose the servicemember they honor.

“Even though Leevi left PC right after high school, you still consider him a local,” Wood said, adding that the 600 Miles of Remembrance also offers an opportunity to honor the family members and friends of the deceased.

“I know many of the good friends he left behind, so for me this is a way to show them that we appreciate the friend they had in Leevi Barnard.”

Fronk said she and her fellow family members appreciate Leevi being remembered during the Coca-Cola 600.

“We are proud of him,” she said. “I don’t know that he would like all this attention, but we are grateful that his memory will be honored by so many people across the country this weekend.”

Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 is set for Thursday, May 24, at 7:15 p.m., and the race is scheduled to start just after 6:15 p.m. with TV coverage on FOX.

MenardsA family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards currently operates 307 home improvement stores located in 14 Midwestern states. Menards is well known throughout the Midwest for a complete selection of high-quality, name brand merchandise and all the tools, materials and supplies for any job. Whether just needing a light bulb, gallon of paint or household supplies, or building a deck, fence or new home, there is something for everyone at Menards whether a beginning do-it-yourselfer or more experienced contractor.

Wood Brothers RacingWood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 119 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen's brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Fusion driven by Paul Menard in the famous No. 21 racer.

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